Helga? Helga! The HelgCup will celebrate its premiere in 2018 on the Hamburg Outer Alster. Initiator and organizer Sven Jürgensen, who this year together with the hosting North German RegattVerein was responsible for the successful Media Cup premiere in the same area, has big plans, wants to bring the first German keelboat championship for women onto the water next year. Initially as a German Open, later if possible as a German championship, the regatt is intended to offer the entire German women's sailing scene a uniform format for competition at a high level once a year.
"Currently women are sailing, for example, in the ORC class, in the J 24, the J 70 and many other classes, but never meet each other. In the ORC class alone there are two all-women projects," explains Sven Jürgensen. "We want to revive women's sailing with the HelgCup and offer a strong platform on which the top female sailors can compete with each other."
Probably the most famous German female crew in the keel boat scene: the "Tutima" team with skipper Kirsten "Kirsche" Harmstorf
Similar to the Bundesliga and Champions League format, the regatt will last three days from June 1 to 3, 2018, with the opening day being intended for intensive training. Up to seven boats should be available for up to 21 participating teams. The YACHT will be a media partner from water sports. A "rookie" crew is to be given the opportunity to participate and challenge Germany's best female sailors via wild card.
Stand behind the HelgCup: The sailors on the advisory board of the new German Open for women
The organizers have already set the course and set up an advisory board that is actively involved in planning and implementation. Advisory board members are Birte Lindlahr, Christine Bauer, AnikPohlenz, ClaudiLangenhan, LinNagel, Annette Bruhns, Silke Basedow, Anke Scheuermann and Kirsten "Kirsch" Harmstorf-Schönwitz. You have all been active as sailors, in organizations, in race management and in public relations for sailing for a long time and want to inspire the HelgCup.
Incidentally, the idea for the name of the new regatta goods was the "keel bombs": an all-women crew who took part in the Media Cup 2017 and found unrestrained fun in joint regattas. Also in the party: Christiane Bauer (Tagesschau), Birte Lindlahr ("Beef") as well as LinNagel and Annette Bruhns from Spiegel. Because the quartet had trained on a boat called "Helga" over and over again for several months for the Media Cup, the idea for the name for the "HelgCup" came up. In the meantime, the women are already training on "Helga" again and have set themselves the double strike for 2018, and want to take part in both the Media Cup and the HelgCup. Both regattas will enrich the anniversary year of the North German Regatt Club, which will celebrate 150 years of club history next year.